spotting fakes

[Craig]

Can someone tell me the best way to spot fakes? What are the first things you look for. I'm new to collecting and think I've bought a repro. Do the auction houses verify authentic buckles. Where is the best place to find them?
Thanks All.

[klr]

Hello Craig
Welcome to the forum. Just start reading the forum and go back to old threads. Don't trust any of the auction houses or dealers. They all make mistakes. Almost any buckle your interested in can be found using the search function. You can get some good buckles off estand . If someone puts something up that's a reproduction the members of the forum will call them on it.
The good part of buckles is almost every organization has their own design. Originials are very good quality. You can get a nice little collection of common buckles for for what 3-4 common daggers cost. Good luck Kirby

[lach470]

Kirby nailed it! Education is key and you'll find lots of it here! There are many, many - many different types of buckles out there and that is what got me interested in them! This is a great place to learn about what to look for regarding detail, prong cuts, belt catches .....and so forth.
If you are unsure of your buckle - post some pics if you can and we can let you know.
Best of luck!
Cheers!
Rob

[regiment739]

Hi Craig, I agree with the rest, also I have a file on fakes, as and when they are spotted on the forum I save the picture in a file for reference

Ben

[Ssteve]

Collecting

Welcome to the forum! I agree with everything everyone has said. I will also add to be very patient! Collecting is a lot of fun and can become addictive. Soon you'll find yourself saying "I got to have it... now".

So be patient and research the buckle(s) your interested in before you buy.

Steve

[helmutderpa]

book

I also agree with everything that has been said and I have to add that I recently bought the book from P Nash which include a very good section to spot the fake. Probably the best published section on the subject.
Could help you a lot...

[Craig]

Thanks all

Thank you all for your imput. I picked up a SS buckle today and want to post pic's to get your opinion but it says at the bottom I can't post attachments. Do I need to pay to be able to post? Thanks Craig

[Ssteve]

SS Buckle

Hi Craig,

You have to be an association member to post pictures. I believe the cost is $25.00 which is a very small price to pay considering this forum and many of the other WAF forums have, without a doubt, saved me thousands of dollars in potential mistakes!

Anyhow, here is Craig's SS buckle that he is looking for opinions?

Steve

[Ssteve]

Reverse..............

[helmutderpa]

Fake

This one is

The book I told you would have made you save your money indeed.

[John T]

Craig...the fakes in all areas of TR collecting have gotten much better since about 1998 and one really has to be on top of things and study things...and they will only get better...it is forums such as these were you can learn a lot, but also keep in mind that on forums you will also read incorrect information, so you have to sort through what you think is correct and what is not.

Cheers and welcome to the club

John

[Ric Ferrari]

Thank you all for your imput. I picked up a SS buckle today and want to post pic's to get your opinion but it says at the bottom I can't post attachments. Do I need to pay to be able to post? Thanks Craig

Craig,

unfortunately the SS buckle posted is a well known repro made in East Europe

Best

Ric

[klr]

Hello Craig

In my first post I said you should use the search function. If you put in 155/40 and search all posts you will find 6 pages of posts about this buckle. Lots and nice originals and a thread by JP about the fakes of this buckle. I hope you can get your money back. Kirby

[Craig]

thanks all

Thanks all for you help. I'm learnig the hard way. Where is the best site to buy original buckles?

[helmutderpa]

Here

It's here